Date: 2024-12-27

AO: 3rd-f

Q: Bishop

PAX: Ditka, Bionic, Schnitzel, Mr Rogers, Bishop

FNGs: None

COUNT: 5

THE THANG:

Introduction: On average, a male in the U.S. lives to 75. Knowing that, how do we feel about our last year?

1. What does the Bible have to say about planning?

– God is a God who plans, both the big and the small

– Ephesians 2:10

– Jeremiah 29:11

– Esther 4:14

– Romans 8:28

– He has instructed us to plan, but to do it in His way

– Proverbs 16:1-3

– Proverbs 6:6-8

– Luke 14:25-35

– Galatians 6:7-9

– All things are ultimately in His control

– Proverbs 19:21

– James 4:13-15

– Job 1:21

– Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Avoiding the two ditches:

– We neither throw up our hands and say it doesn’t matter

– but we likewise do not believe God can be held hostage

1. How to make our plan:

– Recognize the pillars – recognize balance

– Form an identity around those pillars. Who do you want to be for each:

– *** Use reverse blank side to work on identity***

– Identity > Processes > Outcomes

– Examples of success

– There are two types of goals: Milestone and Process

– Recognize this truth: Your habits will determine your future

– Men do not decide their future, they decide their habits and their habits determine their future.

– Your habits are taking you somewhere right now. Look down the road and visualize where that might be. Are you happy with that?

Conclusion: You cannot avoid this, but you do get to decide which path you take. And you WILL take a path, whether you want to or not.

– You will either suffer the pain of discipline, or the pain of regret

– Hebrews 12:11 – No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

– Proverbs 22:3 – The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

PRAYER REQUEST:

Many families facing loss, please remember them in your prayers. We prayed for those mentioned, acknowledging that we do not grieve as the world does, but we grieve with hope.